I Lost Weight: Joan Minnery Wanted To Be There For Her Son And Lost 163 Pounds

How I Gained It: I have always been heavy, but it wasn’t until the past five years that I morphed past 250 pounds. I ate non-stop, from lunch to midnight. I ate lots of carbs, stopped at many drive-thrus and totally gorged myself on pop and greasy foods.

Eventually, I was topping the scales at almost 300 pounds. I had lost my will to live and had given up on myself. I’m a performer by profession and teach musical theater, and even that had become a chore and a source of stress. I’m a single mom of a teenage son who is also a performer. He had resigned himself to the fact that he was going to live his adult life without his mom. We had been told by many health professionals that I was a walking time bomb, but nothing was hitting home, not the pleas from my family nor my acute GERD.

Breaking Point: In August 2010, after a routine medical procedure in a doctor’s office left me humiliated, I was faced with a very real choice: either continue on this path or choose to live. I pulled into the driveway to find my son on his knees begging me to stop the insanity. I had to make a choice between junk food and my son — he won! I started on a health and wellness journey, which has resulted in me turning my entire existence around.

How I Lost It: No gimmicks, no fancy pills, no shakes, no surgery, no medical clinics, just plain old-fashioned common sense. Simply: I put down the fork and got moving. I started a controlled eating plan with more protein and fewer carbs. I ate my carbs in the morning and afternoon, and ate plenty of chicken and fish. And I don’t eat anything past supper time, unless it’s my “treat” night of popcorn on Thursdays while I watch “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Now, I am back dancing, I am back performing, I am back acting, I am back teaching and I am back living. I have reinvented myself and have totally transformed my life. I am the healthiest I have been in 20 years. My proudest achievement is that in December 2011, I became a certified Zumba Fitness instructor, and I am embarking on a health and wellness career, joined by my son, who is a Certified Personal Trainer. I teach six classes per week and take another three. I walk at least six miles every day and take a boot camp once a week.

Two years ago, I was at the end of my rope; now I’ve let the rope go and have hitched my wagon to a star. The sky is the limit.

Hmm what is the difference Btwn the two? I’m basically trying to lose weight. I have 80-100 lbs to lose. My sister in law suggested a low carb, high protein diet. She is very health conscious and in shape, also a vegetarian and in her 40s like me. It helped her lose weight. I do have IBS-D so I can not drink or eat certain things bc it triggers attacks.

low carb or keto? I’m on a keto diet and I love it! my carbs come mostly from non starchy veggies, but sometimes specialty baking products like coconut or almond flour as well. today I’m eating sweet egg muffins with berries and cream cheese for breakfast.. berries and cream cheese are some of my carbs for the day

What a complete inspiration you are!! I thank you so much for sharing your story and giving me hope today. I lost weight a few years ago – 75 lbs to be exact – and gained it all back. I have printed your story out as a source of inspiration. I CAN and WILL do this. Thanks so much.

Man, life IS just a serious of choices- isn’t it? I applaud your decision to LIVE. I am struggling and it is so inspiring to see women like yourself who, plain and simple, made up their mind and achieved a life that they want to live. Congratulations to you! Great job!

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